A PreK–3 program for developing self-regulatory and social-emotional skills: The SECURe Program

The SECURe program was created by the EASEL lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in collaboration with the Success For All (SFA) Foundation, USA. This PreK-3 school-based program targets student’s executive functioning and social, emotional, and cognitive regulation skills. Lessons are designed to enhance cognitive and emotional management, social skills, and problem solving strategies.

The main features of the SECURe program include cooperative learning structures, conflict resolution strategies, self-regulation techniques and daily routines (e.g., morning meetings, brain games) that adults as well as students have to follow throughout the day in order to improve student learning and behavior and build a positive classroom and school climate. The curriculum consists of 36-38 weekly lessons across 6 units, with lessons ranging from 30-60 minutes.

Training for school personnel is available, and includes workshops on implementing the program as well as for personal development in social and emotional competence. There is also a supplementary family-focused program (SECURe Families) that offers 9 monthly workshops and resources for engaging family members in reinforcing SECURe skills.

SECURe has been integrated and adapted for several pilot studies, including the Getting Ready for School program (GRS) in 16 Head Start classrooms in New York City, in Success For All (SFA)’s all-day preschool and kindergarten programs Curiosity Corner and KinderCorner, and in summer programming for Children’s Aid Society of New York, among others.